抄録
We examined the relationship between frequency of watching baseball games and the
physical, social, and psychological characteristics among elderly people who participated in an
intervention study titled effects of spectating professional baseball at the stadium on healthrelated
outcomes in middle-aged and older adults. We used self-administered questionnaires and
surveys to determine physical, social, and psychological characteristics. During the study period, we
provided participants with free tickets to professional baseball games. We recommended that each
participant attend at least two games per month, but to avoid excessive attendance. Following the
study period, we used questionnaires to determine the characteristics associated with attendance at
professional baseball games. Whether or not a participant attended games frequently was used as
the objective variable, and other characteristics were used as explanatory variables in a stepwise
multiple regression or multiple logistic regression analysis, to determine which physical, social, and
psychological characteristics correlated with attendance frequency.
There were 57 participants in this study, with a mean age of 74 years. The mean attendance
frequency was 3.3 times per month. Attendance frequency had a significant negative correlation
with the presence of an orthopedic disorder. There was a significant positive correlation with the
frequency of attendance at social outings. There was also a significant negative correlation with
subjective happiness and a positive correlation with physical quality of life. This study showed that
elderly participants who frequently attended professional baseball games did not have orthopedic
diseases, tended to go on frequent, regular outings, had a low level of subjective happiness, and had a high physical quality of life. Further study is needed to clarify the factors correlated with attendance at sporting events by the elderly. The information can be used to provide an environment conducive to attendance by the elderly at sporting events in stadiums.
